Modernization is the process in which social and economic change is obtained through industrial revolution, urbanization and other social changes that alters people's lives. Modernization promotes individualism over the unity of traditional communities and encourages rationality over traditional philosophies. Modernization can have both positive and negative effects on society and can often bring about controversy.

The German sociologist Ferdinand TÃÂ¶nnies (1855-1937) formed the theory of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft. Ferdinand TÃÂ¶nnies saw modernization as the progressive loss of human community (Gemeinschaft). He also believed that modernization caused people in modern societies to drift apart and personal relationships became more impersonal as people became more self-absorbed (Gesellschaft). Ferdinand TÃÂ¶nnies theory suggests that Ã¢ÂÂ¦ modernity turns society inside out so that people are essentially separated in spite of uniting factors (Macionis, J., 2006, page 457). Large cities provide an excellent example of Ferdinand TÃÂ¶nnies theory of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft. People pass one another by the hundreds on busy city streets every day; yet, they remain strangers because they ignore each other as they pass.

A segment of a social network

Emile Durkheim

Couverture du livre de Emile Durkheim, Le Socialis...

Even loyalty and trust becomes issues between friends as individuals put their personal needs above others. Peter Berger's work was greatly influenced by Ferdinand TÃÂ¶nnies theories.

Peter Berger (1977) identified four major characteristics of modernization to describe his theory about how modernization manifests itself.

1.The decline of small, traditional communities: rather than life revolving around family and community it now revolves around technology and individualism. People born into modern societies may have the tendency to overlook such a decline in small, traditional communities because they would have never lived in or possibly even seen a small, traditional community.

2. The expansion of personal choice: rather than following the traditional standards of life i.e. religion, faith etc. people have the option to take control and choose their own...

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Modernization is the process in which social and economic change is obtained through industrial revolution, urbanization and other social changes that alters people's lives. Modernization promotes individualism over the unity of traditional communities and encourages rationality over traditional ...

... Durkheim viewed modernization not so much as a loss of community as a change from community based on bonds of likeness (kinship and neighborhood) to community based on economic interdependence (the division of labor). Max Weber (1921-1978) viewed modernization as "replacing a traditional ...

... of community and this feeling of "blasé indifference", was largely responsible for the high rates of crime. Many people felt cheated and left out of modern life so they turned to a life of crime . Karl Marx one of the most influential thinkers of ...